Elephants Trunk - Up or Down

[towersje]

Here's one. It's created a big debate with colleagues (who are mainly on safety cover, teaching and active rescue work).

When out in our smaller boats fitted with elephants trunks (thinking up to 5.4m - mainly seariders) I always drive with the elephants trunk down. Upsides - I never have to leave the console and water can (nearly) always drain out. Downsides - when stationary water seeps back in (although with a small period of razzing it soon disapeers). The other downside is people forgetting to bring it up at the end of the day, but surely that's something training can fix?

Didn't see any RYA guidelines on this!

Anyway, your thoughts please!

[codprawn]

If water only seeps in then leave them down!!!

[Nos4r2]

Down of course.

[walruz]

Depends on conditions. When reasonably calm I drain the water then pull them up. In any kind of rough leave them down.

Ian

[Bigmuz7]

+1

[9D280]

Alternatively, take the "up rope" forward & fit a cleat by the console - then you can operate them without having to move and can be lifted / lowered when going flat out - at milliseconds notice and without letting go of the wheeel.

Works for me!

[towersje]

Thought so. Might try taking a rope forward at some point. Only question would be how to do the routing? Rather essential that the floor space is kept as clear as possible! What have people managed before?

[rchrdleigh]

Pass it through the grab handles on the tubes of a SR5.4 and make a quick release catch which keeps the trunk up until you want to lower it. Can be done with one hand if needed but better to get the crew to do it while you concentrate on driving, keeping a lookout etc
I'll try and get a picture next time I'm out on the SR with it fitted.

[9D280]

I suspect rchrdleigh's picture is exactly what I took so long to type that he posted before I finished..... I also have routed the prototype through my handles, BUT I have had 2 instances so far of people thinking it was more firmly attatched than it is and nearly going over the side 'coz the trunks were down and 2 foot of slack was found on a rope that looked taught enough to grab ..... hence my suggestion of running it along the hollow under the toob. But back to the pre edited post.....

I routed it along the "hollow" created where the toob joins the deck. Also have a length of bungee tied to it to make sure the trunk drops when released. On the SR I had to grovel to get at it, which is why I'm experimenting with a hook - the theory being I can attatch it to the toobs without any problems or drilling holes - I'll ty to describe the prototype......


Rope is tied off with a bowline on a 6" (ish - enough to make it easy to hit without too good an aim) loop round a convenient place on the toob (e.g safety rope anchor/ handhold or you could glue a dedicated patch on) with the trunk in the down position. Then lift the trunk, and figure out where the taught end of the rope meets the loop. Tie a small stainless hook there. Then drop it again, and experiment with bungee cord and adjust to get optimal "down force" without giving yourself a hernia getting it back up. You may need a couple of up / downs of the trunk to optimise it, but once done, a bit of whipping twine will make sure nothing goes walkabouts.

[Chris]

What about an electric Elephants trunk

I feel another little project coming on, some sort of actuator that drops the trunk at the flick of a switch. Clearly you would need to re-attach it manually but thats no problem is it.